FPS trustees want to interview seven for superintendent

Farmington Public Schools trustees have chosen seven finalists from a pool of 29 applicants for the position of superintendent.

Dr. George Heitsch will retire on July 1; officials expect to hire his replacement by early June.

The seven candidates were identified only by number; names will not be released until they accept an invitation to interview for the position. Consultant Donna Oser explained that candidates can request anonymity.

“Michigan’s Open Meetings Act requires that boards conduct business in public, even superintendent interviews,” she said, adding the board could have taken their discussion into closed session. “We recommend you do it in an open session… That way your community can hear your thinking and any kind of conversation you have. They’re able to understand what you’re valuing.”

In a “soft poll,” all seven candidates had support from at least three trustees. Interview confirmations, and the release of candidate names, should happen later this week.

Board of Education President Pam Green said that among the 29 applicants, 13 had current or previous superintendent experience and more than half held Ed.D., Ph.D., or Ed.S. degrees or equivalent. Here’s the demographic breakdown:

Gender

59 percent male

38 percent female

3 percent no response

Race

55 percent white

17 percent Hispanic

17 percent black

10 percent no response

Trustees will interview the first-round candidates May 14 and 15, during meetings that will be open to the public and televised. Finalists will tour the district and go through a second interview on May 22; that meeting will also be open to the public and televised.